Jornalero – VICENTE IZQUIERDO

Jornalero

Vicente Izquierdo, (active 1858-1881)

Oil on canvas glued to tablex. Signed

38 x 44 cm (47,5 x 53 cm framed)

Throughout the 19th century, a notable interest arose in portraying popular characters and the specific values of rural life, idealizing the simplicity, purity and authenticity of tradition. This movement is known as picturesque painting.

This new pictorial current takes some influence from the French painting of the late nineteenth century, with artists such as Eduard Manet and The Old Musician of 1862 and Emile Bernard with Spanish Beggars of 1897 and the combination of three key trends in the development of this new costumbrista naturalism, such as Impressionism, Naturalism and Symbolism, which are indispensable to understand it. It is based on a nationalist discourse that seeks to represent the real image of Spanish society and how to project it abroad from the deepest authenticity.

This portrait presents a figure in the foreground, where it is important to capture the essence of the character, detailing every feature of his face and clothing, faithfully capturing his essence. It is a symmetrical and balanced composition, placing the figure in the center of the work, giving it great visual power. It shows an elderly man, dressed in the typical clothing of a day laborer: simple and functional. He wears a cotton or linen undershirt, a reddish overshirt, a vest buttoned up to the neck and a wide-brimmed hat. It would be interesting to highlight the depth of his gaze, penetrating and deep, which gives him a great expressive power establishing an almost intimate connection with the viewer. The figure is placed on a neutral and dark background, in chromatic harmony with his clothing, where toasted, brown and ochre tones predominate, which contribute to create a warm and melancholic atmosphere.

The work, done in oil on tablex, has a brushstroke that brings texture and depth to the composition. The state of conservation is considerably good, which allows us to clearly appreciate the original details and nuances of the painting.